General Clark and Anybody But Dean ( Clark/Hillary ticket?)

[Feanorcurufinwe]

By John Ellis Published 09/19/2003

It is an article of faith among professional politicians that a divisive primary battle can be fatal to a successful general election campaign. Richard Nixon once told a bewildered group of visitors to his Saddle River Elba that Rep. John Ashbrook's primary challenge had been a major distraction of the 1972 re-election campaign. Most of those gathered had no memory of Ashbrook or the Ashbrook campaign (it began and ended with the New Hampshire primary) and couldn't imagine that it had caused the former president a moment's worry. But Nixon was adamant on the point. Divisive primaries were, he said, in all cases and without exception, "bad news."

Incumbents can, if they're skillful, avoid primary challenges, but what if yours is the out party? The presidential primaries and caucuses produce your nominee; the road back to the White House begins with 7-10 hyper-ambitious people killing each other off to become The One. So what does a political party do to minimize the damage of that fight?

Democratic National Committee Chairman Terry McAulliffe, in consultation with former President Clinton and a gaggle of Clintonian consultants, decided that the best solution was to compress the primary schedule down to about five weeks.

<snip>

Enter General Wesley Clark, a Clinton/McAuliffe production if there ever was one (Clark's advisors, almost to a person, are all veteran Clinton hacks). General Clark's candidacy is the Anybody But Dean campaign. With a twist. The twist is that Hillary Clinton's name will soon be floated as his running mate. The message will be that Clark-Clinton will unite the party. All of this has happened or will soon happen before a single vote has been cast. That's how much front-loading the primary schedule has exaggerated the importance of Iowa and New Hampshire and distorted the nomination process.
http://www.techcentralstation.com/091903A.html

There's no denying Hillary is one of the most popular figures in our party.

[Skwmom]

1. Sounds great to me.

I hope it happens.

[clar]

2. I see her

as the most divisive politician ever. And I don't like her. BYW, I'm
a liberal woman.

[caledesi]

3. Clar...I get the same feeling. Most of my friends do NOT like her.

[LoZoccolo]

5. And people think /Dean/ is controversial?

They'll bring up all that Vince Foster-type stuff again.

[ima_sinnic]

10. same here

I don't like her at all and I also am female, and liberal

[sandnsea]

11. Some agreement around here?

I don't like her either, but my husband loves her! Maybe it could work. My dream is still Kerry/Edwards.

[dfong63]

4. ugh

[jayson23]

6. What abotut Clark / Kerry?

They seem like a strong ticket to me. I'm a fan of both of them, policy-wise, and they certainly can't be touched by the right wingers when it comes to patriotism.

Anyone have any thoughts?

[madmax]

7. That's the ticket but, will JFK accept VP

Clark/Kerry

Do you think Kerry's ego won't allow him to accept the #2 slot?

[Feanorcurufinwe]

9. In 2000 yes, but now?

after running so hard? I wonder. How common has it been really, for rival primary candidates to end up on the ticket together?

[union_maid]

8. Not Hillary, please!

I like her. She's my senator, so I've had the chance to vote for her and I did. I don't want her in a run for the presidency this time around, anyway. Maybe in the future, but not now. She is a divisive figure. One reason I support Clark is that I believe that he's the one that can bring many, many swing voters over and score a decisive win. I believe he can be a messenger that people who haven't been hearing us will listen to. Hillary is certainly not that. Clark/Dean, Clark/Kerry, Clark/Edwards or Clark/Someone else that we haven't considered but not Clark/Hillary. My preference would be Clark/Dean or Clark/Edwards because I'd rather not put a Senate seat in play.

[disgruntella]

12. I don't like the "Anybody But Dean" bit

Nor am I psyched by the notion of either of the Clintons being a running mate for Clark. Dean has mobilized so much Democratic energy; it's foolish to write all of that off. And a Clinton running mate would have sooooo much baggage; I personally don't want the sport of Clinton-hating to get any more mainstream press.

It's funny -- I thought a Dean/Clark or Clark/Dean ticket was a stretch before, but either one is starting to sound quite good to me.